What is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that is characterized by the production of abnormal plasma cells. As the disease progresses, these abnormal plasma cells produced in the bone marrow begin crowding out healthy cells and hampering various bodily functions.
It is less common than leukemia and lymphoma. Usually, the treatment goal for multiple myeloma is long-term remission. Often, multiple myeloma patients experience recurrences, and therefore these individuals must adhere to their follow-up appointments after the completion of their treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma does not always present symptoms in the early stages, and this makes its early detection challenging.
It is crucial to pay attention to any symptom that lasts for more than two weeks. Symptoms that are persistent and do not get better with medications should be thoroughly checked.
The following are the commonly observed symptoms of multiple myeloma:
- Bone damage
- Anemia
- Fatigue and/or shortness of breath
- Numbness or weakness
- Leg swelling
- Appetite changes
- Frequent infection
- Excessive thirst
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Mental fogginess or confusion
- Weight loss
What Causes of Multiple Myeloma?
While we don’t know the exact cause, reports suggest that certain factors can increase the risk of multiple myeloma. Becoming aware of these risk factors can help in seeking timely medical guidance from specialists and putting oneself ahead of multiple myeloma.
The following are the different risk factors for multiple myeloma:
- Increasing age is a risk factor for multiple myeloma; individuals aged above 65 have a higher chance of getting diagnosed with this condition.
- Multiple myeloma is more common in men than in women.
- Having a family history of multiple myeloma is a risk factor.
- This condition is more common among African Americans.
- Certain plasma cell disorders, like monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), can act as a precursor for multiple myeloma.
What are the Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma?
Different treatment options are available for multiple myeloma. These treatments are often administered in combination to improve the overall treatment effectiveness and increase the chances of successful outcomes.
1. Chemotherapy: It involves using powerful anti-cancer drugs to kill and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
2. Bone Marrow Transplant: Multiple myeloma leads to the excess production of cancerous plasma cells, which affects the normal functioning of the bone marrow.
A bone marrow transplant replaces the existing, unhealthy stem cells with the healthy and normal-functioning stem cells from a donor.
This treatment helps restore the normal production of various types of blood cells.
3. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy involves re-engineering the patient’s immune system in such a way that it becomes able to identify and attack multiple myeloma cells in the body. This treatment is often combined with other treatments like chemotherapy and BMT for better quality outcomes.
4. Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy involves targeting specific molecules and cellular pathways that are responsible for the development of multiple myeloma. Targeted therapy specifically targets cancer cells to either kill them or control them. This treatment causes relatively less damage to healthy cells.
5. Medications: Multiple myeloma management involves the use of pain medications to manage bone pain, antibiotics to manage infections, and steroids to manage inflammation.
Conclusion
Multiple myeloma is a less common type of blood cancer. It may cause various symptoms, and the common ones include bone pain, frequent infections, weakness, and anemia. Paying attention to any symptom that lasts for more than two weeks is critical for early detection and timely treatment of multiple myeloma. The field of cancer medicine has evolved significantly in recent years, and today, we have multiple treatment approaches available for multiple myeloma management. These treatment approaches have been found to help patients achieve long-term remission, prolong survival, and improve the quality of life.
